Cardiac vagal tone is associated with physical activity but not with depressive symptoms, work stress, and social support: A large-scale 10-year follow-up study

Abstract

Cardiac vagal tone has been associated with mental and physical health and presents opportunities for preventive and therapeutic applications in mental health and cardiovascular medicine. Vagally-mediated heart rate variability (vmHRV), a marker of cardiac vagal tone, has been associated with multiple factors related to well-being. Recent research further suggests that stress regulation, social connection, and lifestyle jointly contribute to improved well-being. In a large-scale study (n = 2252), we measured depressive symptoms, work stress, social support, and physical activity (T1) and then investigated whether these factors were prospectively associated with resting vmHRV measured at the 10-year follow-up assessment (T2). We also investigated whether these factors and their changes from T1 to T2 were associated with resting vmHRV at T2. Results showed that more physical activity was associated with higher resting vmHRV at T2. However, resting vmHRV was not associated with other factors at T2 and in longitudinal analyses. Latent profile analysis revealed that individuals maintaining moderate physical activity over these years showed higher resting vmHRV. This large population-based longitudinal study conducted in Belgium provides important evidence supporting the link between cardiac vagal tone and physical activity but does not support an association with depressive symptoms, work stress, and social support.